Picturesque Beach and Geopark Experiences in Belitung, Indonesia

Tucked away in the east coast of Sumatra is Indonesia’s hidden gem. Similar to its sister islands like Bali and Lombok, Belitung packs a punch with its picturesque beach and geopark experiences.

How To Get There

Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta airport has several aircrafts to Tanjung Pandan in Belitung daily. Across international waters, AirAsia is the first flight to connect Kuala Lumpur to Belitung directly. You can also get there from the nearest port at Pangkalpinang in Bangka islands; it takes 4 hours on a speedboat.

What To Do

Belitung makes up a splendid list of beach and island hopping destinations. Tanjung Tinggi beach is in the backdrop of one of Indonesia’s highest grossing film–Laskar Pelangi–recognisable for its extremely clear blue water and pristine sand. 

Lengkuas Island is a popular stop for its 19^th century antique lighthouse–visitors may climb the lighthouse to capture the perfect panoramic scene. Additionally, check out the conservation center at Kepayang Island and cave at Kelayang Island.

As a previously abandoned white clay mine, Danau Kaolin has turned into a pictorial lake today. The gorgeous scenery is often likened to a volcanic crater minus the sulphuric air. Batu Baginde is worth the trip for hikers to trek and climb the giant granite rocks. Culturally, Museum Kata Andrea Hirata is a local rainbow-coloured literary museum for fans of Hirata’s book.

Where To Stay

BW Suite Belitung is located in Tanjung Pandan town center with close proximity to attractions. A more secluded option would be Hotel Santika Premiere Beach Resort Belitung, a beachfront resort with convenient access to Tanjung Kelayang beach. 

Where To Eat

Mie Belitung is a savoury gravy noodle dish topped with vegetables, potatoes, shrimp and keropok (chips). It is the island’s specialty dish and can be found in most eatery places. Coffee aficionados must try a cup of the local brew at Kong Djie–a famous coffee house on the island.

Good To Know

• Renting a car or motorcycle is recommended for ease of travel. Otherwise, Street Taxi Belitung is the only licensed taxi service on the island operating on meter.
• Andrea Hirata’s book “Laskar Pelangi” pinned Belitung as a prominent tourism island after the story of his childhood experiences are adapted into a movie of the same name.

Text by Jessy Wong